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AFGE President Everett Kelley Says Both The Shutdown And The Lockout Of Federal Employees Must End

The Rev. Dr. Everett Kelley, President of the over-800,000 member American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), joined Make It Plain with Rev. Mark Thompson on WPFW-FM 89.3 Pacifica Radio to call for an end to the 34-day government shutdown in the midst of Trump nullifying the AFGE collective bargaining agreement, effectively locking out federal employees, […]

Published

10 months ago

November 4, 2025

Oakland Post

“ I have members of my union going to work and not getting paid, and another large majority of them just sitting at home on furlough,” said Kelley.

“These are people that provide a service for the American people. They make sure the air we breathe is good air, the food that we eat is inspected. These are people that make sure that the skies we travel in are safe. These are people that make sure that, you know, while we’re sleeping at night criminals are not roaming the streets, but they’re not getting paid,” he added.

Kelley provided specific details of one service where the public is suffering because of the shutdown and the attack on the federal workforce.

“Whether it be through a shutdown or just firing a mass number of people that means that the meat that we are eating is not being inspected adequately,” Kelley said.

“I represent those employees and what I already know is that only 50% of the meat that we were eating was being inspected prior to the shutdown,” he added.

So now if you start talking about laying off massive amounts of people, who’s gonna do that inspection? We’re gonna leave it up to the [meat-packing] plants to do that? That’s the fox guarding the hen house,” said Kelley.

Kelley said the impact of the shutdown, layoffs and furloughs on federal employees has been traumatic.

”Remember [OMB Director] Russell Vought was saying that he wanted federal employees to be traumatized,” Kelley said.

“More and more [federal employees] are standing in lines to get food than what I would’ve ever imagined,” he said.

Thompson asked Kelley about his perceived break with Democrats and other unions over ending the shutdown being tied to Affordable Care Act (ACA) extended tax credits which expire at the end of the year and which lower monthly health insurance premiums for millions of Americans who buy coverage through the ACA marketplace.

Kelley said, ”You know, when you start talking about, uh, uh, um, medical, uh, benefits, you know, uh, I’m also a recipient of that. Okay?”

“I’m not saying that that’s not important, but what I am saying, though, is that the members that I represent. Have suffered enough,” he added.

Kelley also said, “The [majority of the] members that I represent are not getting paid. And they just like the rest of America, they live from paycheck to paycheck. Standing in line to get food, worrying about how they’re going to pay their mortgage. They’re worrying about how to provide medical care for ailing children, pregnant mothers calling me crying.”

Kelley also discussed AFGE’s litigation against the Trump Administration.

”We got a preliminary injunction [preventing mass layoffs], and that injunction has been extended at this point,’ he said. “[The Courts] have determined that the action that [the Administration] is taking is completely illegal,” he said.

WATCH the full interview with the AFGE President here:

[This post contains video, click to play]

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Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”
The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

By Jana Lang Propel Youth Reporter

Youth-Led Black August Event Brings Past to Present at East Oakland Boxing Association

The East Oakland Boxing Association (EOBA) and Youth Alive! came together on Aug. 21 to share with their community all that Black August means to them.

Held on EOBA’s patio at 816 98th Ave. in Deep East Oakland, the two organizations hosted their second annual Black August Experience, featuring a food tasting, financial literacy and mindfulness workshops, and voter registration with the League of Women Voters Oakland (LWV).

Black August is known as a time to uphold the legacy of prisoners who protested their conditions by fasting, fighting, and educating themselves on the economic and political circumstances that contributed to their incarceration.

According to its website, “EOBA is a multi-service youth and community development hub that goes far beyond the ring. While rooted in the discipline of boxing, for nearly 40 years EOBA has also integrated robust programs in workforce development, food justice, afterschool enrichment, financial literacy, mentorship, and wellness.”.

The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.”

Through Coro California, another leadership organization serving young people across the state for 80 years, they gained a broader understanding of Black August.

EOBA Executive Director Dawna Williams spoke about how much she learned about Black August from the youth who created it. “I let them educate me,” she said. Instead of talking about prison reform and mass incarceration, Williams and youth interns found that Black August meant so much more. “We would have done a disservice if we had just focused on who the people were and what their situation was…We tried to take their message from back in the day and make it relevant to the young people today. What do they need to know?”

Youth interns created and placed posters around the patio to help participants understand how traditional Black foodways, civic engagement, financial literacy, and the power of education are relevant to Black resistance today.

An EOBA member described Black August with Youth ALIVE! as “a whole vibe. “This year we added the Fun Zone for the kids, because you really cannot go wrong with a Fun Zone. I also loved seeing everyone chillin’ in the outdoor lounge, catching some Vitamin D and just enjoying a Friday evening together.”

The food tasting, a popular event from last year, featured traditional Black foods such as black-eyed peas, johnny cakes, and fried chicken. Led by Williams, the tasting included a talk about how these traditional foods were made and why they are forms of Black resilience.

The “‘Plate of History’ was a favorite of the online writers. “Fun, educational, and did I mention delicious? Our Taste of History cook, Angela Southall, served up some good eats while connecting food to history and culture.”

The writer also commended the “League of Women Voters Oakland for their civic leadership and for getting our young people informed, ready, and registered to vote.”

Overall, it was a “good Friday event in East Oakland,” the writer said.

Upcoming Black August events: Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS), will host “Black August: The Arc of Liberation” at Oakland City Hall on Sat. Aug. 29, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The websites for East Oakland Boxing Association, Youth Alive! and CORO are sources for this report.

Jana Lang is an Oakland resident, teacher, gardener and poet participating in the Propel News Initiative.

The post The mission of Youth Alive! Is to “break the cycle of violence, heal trauma, and uplift a thriving community of leaders, to save lives in Oakland and beyond” by serving “as mentors, youth leaders, counselors, case managers, intervention specialists and violence interrupters,” working “to help violently wounded people heal themselves and their community.” appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts

Is your home EV charging setup ready? Dealerships may not warn you about critical outlet and circuit needs. Find out before you plug in!
The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Dealerships won’t tell you: charging this big battery at home isn’t always simple. Verify your outlet capacity, circuit, and setup before assuming level one or basic outdoor outlets will suffice.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/A9Cd2SspoaQ

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The post EV Home Charging Warning: What Dealerships Won’t Tell You! #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

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Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts

Don’t get tricked at the dealership! Learn essential car buying secrets to secure the best deal and avoid hidden traps.
The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.

Published

1 week ago

August 29, 2026

Oakland Post

Before stepping into a dealership, secure bank pre-approval for your financing rate. Then, get the out-the-door price in writing. Never discuss monthly payments until that number is fixed. Test road noise and rear visibility yourself. Decline add-ons with a simple ‘Not today’. Check backseat space with your tallest household member.

Watch the full video: https://youtu.be/maAOBjO1puY

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The post Car Buying Secrets: Dealership Traps & How to Avoid Them #shorts appeared first on BlackPressUSA.